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The Stax thread (New) - Page 47

post #691 of 17295
3/11/07 at 12:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Downrange View Post
Here's a design by Ciufolli. I priced the transformers alone at over 500 bucks, but wonder if the resulting quality (and use of new components) would be worth if?

http://www.audiodesignguide.com/my/stax_transf.html
When I checked the price of the Lundahl transformers I thought they were about $120 USD a piece. They have a turns ratio of 14.4:1 and the Stax SRD-7 trans is 24:1. The Lundahl trans would need considerably more voltage drive from the amp. 36 watts driving the SRD would take 100 watts on the Lundahl for the same level (not actual watts but the voltage required for that wattage rating into 8 ohms). For this reason I passed on them. I am testing the trans out of my old Koss E/9 energizer for possible use. They are fairly big and probably have better low frequency performance than the SRD, but the jury is still out. You do not need a expensive transformer for the Bias supply.

AudioD
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post #692 of 17295
3/11/07 at 12:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by audiod View Post
When I checked the price of the Lundahl transformers I thought they were about $120 USD a piece. They have a turns ratio of 14.4:1 and the Stax SRD-7 trans is 24:1. The Lundahl trans would need considerably more voltage drive from the amp. For this reason I passed on them. I am testing the trans out of my old Koss E/9 energizer for possible use. They are fairly big and probably have better low frequency performance than the SRD, but the jury is still out. You do not need a expensive transformer for the Bias supply.

AudioD
A 20$ Hammond transformer is plenty for the bias supply.
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post #693 of 17295
3/11/07 at 12:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by d-cee View Post
i scored my stax lambda pro + srm-1/mk-2 for US$455 i'm pretty sure i got a huge bargain and they're in absolute mint condition
I paid the same amount for my Lambda Pro and black SRM-1/MK2, which happens to be in excellent condition as well. Pretty good deals we got there, I must say!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Veniogenesis View Post
Argh, now I regret jumping on them so fast. I've realized I paid a rather high price for mine. This is going to suck considering I don't have any cash to purchase an amplifier in the foreseeable future (many months). Maybe I'll sell them and hope not to sell for a loss (unlikely).
Send me a PM if you ever decide to sell them!
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post #694 of 17295
3/11/07 at 12:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Veniogenesis View Post
Oh man. Simply amazing. $230.

I went for the impulse buy on a Sigma Pro as well on YJA. I paid a rather comparatively large price for it. Haha, I'm not too good at bargain hunting. Now... as for an amplifier to match it...

On a completely unrelated note, I saw that someone (most likely a Head-Fier) scored a W2002 for $860. Pretty damn good.
Was it the one that just ended a few hours ago?
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post #695 of 17295
3/11/07 at 12:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by krmathis View Post
Great choice!
* The Sigma Pro's rarely come up for sale, so I am not quite sure about their going rate. Probably $4-600...
* The Lambda Pro's going rate have gone up lately, so expect to pay $3-500 for a well taken care of pair.

There are currently one Lambda Pro up for sale on eBay, and so far the highest bid are $200.
You referring to this auction?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...2506&rd=1&rd=1

Found it weird that its stated as a Lambda Pro but then when you look closer at the pictures of the earspeakers; specifically at the connector, its a 6pin. Lambda low bias? Or are the old Lambda low bias version also labelled "Pro"?
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post #696 of 17295
3/11/07 at 12:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jigster View Post
You referring to this auction?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...2506&rd=1&rd=1

Found it weird that its stated as a Lambda Pro but then when you look closer at the pictures of the earspeakers; specifically at the connector, its a 6pin. Lambda low bias? Or are the old Lambda low bias version also labelled "Pro"?
Yup it is a low bias Lambda , not a Lambda Pro.
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post #697 of 17295
3/11/07 at 1:03pm
zing zing, was wondering why it was going so cheap
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post #698 of 17295
3/11/07 at 1:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jigster View Post
You referring to this auction?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...2506&rd=1&rd=1

Found it weird that its stated as a Lambda Pro but then when you look closer at the pictures of the earspeakers; specifically at the connector, its a 6pin. Lambda low bias? Or are the old Lambda low bias version also labelled "Pro"?
Yes, that is the one I talked about.
And you are right, the picture certainly show a low bias SR-Lambda, not a Lambda Pro. He probably don't know better, or try to scam us!

I did not look closely at the picture, just read the subject line. The seller don't ship to my location, so I did not care much about it...
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post #699 of 17295
3/11/07 at 1:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pabbi1 View Post
Kevin was iffy about the KT77 (not sure why), but most likely HE never bothers with anythiong other than Mullard xf2...

Well, regarding the EA-6, it is still not perfect, and has some REALLY rough spots (Tool, 10k Days, has parts that breal up really bad in saturated guitar), and yet, Hoobastank, Alison Krauss and Janes Addiction are all superb, with glorious microdetail that eludes the BH... I am simply baffled, and no 'It's broken' excuse this time. He also went to 17GW6 instead of 6BQ6, so it definitely has way more gain... more results to come. And, once I gat Alex to wake up and help me figure this out...
If i'm not mistaken(and I very well could be) the McAlister amps have very low maximum output voltage.As in not a whole lot of voltage swing. Are you sure it's not simply clipping on complex passages ? Running out of steam so to speak on temporary but sustained peaks.(ie: guitar) Personally I think that may be what it is.
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post #700 of 17295
3/11/07 at 2:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by spritzer View Post
A 20$ Hammond transformer is plenty for the bias supply.
Thanks for the info, Audiod and Spritzer!

Guess I'll keep looking for an SRD-7 Pro/MkII
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post #701 of 17295
3/11/07 at 2:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by derekbmn View Post
If i'm not mistaken(and I very well could be) the McAlister amps have very low maximum output voltage.As in not a whole lot of voltage swing. Are you sure it's not simply clipping on complex passages ? Running out of steam so to speak on temporary but sustained peaks.(ie: guitar) Personally I think that may be what it is.
Yep, could well be, as that seems exactly what is happening... going through the other due diligence now (Deoxit, tube rolling, etc)... more later.
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post #702 of 17295
3/11/07 at 3:33pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Downrange View Post
Here's a design by Ciufolli. I priced the transformers alone at over 500 bucks, but wonder if the resulting quality (and use of new components) would be worth if?

http://www.audiodesignguide.com/my/stax_transf.html
One can improve a lot on Stax's cheap transformers, so if you can afford it, go for it. Alternatively you could replace the wire and transformers in one of Stax's units for similar effect.


Quote:
Originally Posted by krmathis View Post
Great choice!
* The Sigma Pro's rarely come up for sale, so I am not quite sure about their going rate. Probably $4-600...
* The Lambda Pro's going rate have gone up lately, so expect to pay $3-500 for a well taken care of pair.

There are currently one Lambda Pro up for sale on eBay, and so far the highest bid are $200.
Another Sigma Pro was up on YJ last night. Annoyingly the listing isn't showing up on Aucfan and I didn't keep the browser window open, so I don't know how much it went for. 30-40k yen I'd imagine.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Veniogenesis View Post
I went for the impulse buy on a Sigma Pro as well on YJA. I paid a rather comparatively large price for it. Haha, I'm not too good at bargain hunting. Now... as for an amplifier to match it...
Oh, so it was you! Hahaha. How much did it end up going for?


Quote:
Originally Posted by derekbmn View Post
If i'm not mistaken(and I very well could be) the McAlister amps have very low maximum output voltage.
Not very low when compared to Stax's amps, but certainly when compared to the ES1 and Blue Hawaii. Some 'stats (HE90 for example) need less power than others, so it's not necessarily an issue.
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post #703 of 17295
3/11/07 at 4:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carl View Post
Not very low when compared to Stax's amps, but certainly when compared to the ES1 and Blue Hawaii. Some 'stats (HE90 for example) need less power than others, so it's not necessarily an issue.
I believe the EA-1 only puts out 350v, the same as a SRM-313. Not sure on the EA-4 & EA-6.
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post #704 of 17295
3/11/07 at 4:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carl View Post
Another Sigma Pro was up on YJ last night. Annoyingly the listing isn't showing up on Aucfan and I didn't keep the browser window open, so I don't know how much it went for. 30-40k yen I'd imagine.
Guess I should watch Yahoo! Japan more often!
Cause it seems to be the "only" place where Sigma Pro's and Illusion ESC-1001's come up for sale.

Its just that the Japanese language barrier is a big hurdle for me...
Anyone know a good English speaking search engine for Yahoo! Japan?
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post #705 of 17295
3/11/07 at 6:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by audiod View Post
When I checked the price of the Lundahl transformers I thought they were about $120 USD a piece. They have a turns ratio of 14.4:1 and the Stax SRD-7 trans is 24:1. The Lundahl trans would need considerably more voltage drive from the amp. 36 watts driving the SRD would take 100 watts on the Lundahl for the same level (not actual watts but the voltage required for that wattage rating into 8 ohms). For this reason I passed on them. I am testing the trans out of my old Koss E/9 energizer for possible use. They are fairly big and probably have better low frequency performance than the SRD, but the jury is still out. You do not need a expensive transformer for the Bias supply.

AudioD
It looks like my setup would still power that with little problem. It's tempting I must say, those would be nicer transformers than in the SRD-7s. I do notice the parts list mentions two LL1651s though. Am I missing something or should only one be required? I would have thought based on the LL1651 datasheet that to get 500V (from a 230V supply like Italy has) you could connect terminal 4 to 1 and 2 to 3. I could of course just be misreading the circuit and the datasheeet. Unfortunately that circuit is just a bit vague on the connections to the primary. Guess I could email the author for clarification.

On another note, it seems he's also made some Stax amps and posted circuit diagrams although in essence both would appear to be high voltage amps with a low ratio transformer box attached on the output.
http://www.audiodesignguide.com/my/stax_amp.html
http://www.audiodesignguide.com/my/stax_amp2.html

Edit: A link to the transformer box circuit might be helpful.
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